The Saskatchewan RCMP is urging drivers to make safe decisions on the road as officers respond to an increasing number of fatalities.
In the span of less than two weeks, Mounties have responded to 12 collisions that killed 17 people, between July 10 and July 21.
Half of the crashes involved alcohol or drugs as a contributing factor, according to police.
“The month of July is not over yet and we have already surpassed last year’s (collision) numbers,” said Insp. Lee Knelson, operations officer with Saskatchewan RCMP Traffic Services.
In the last two months, fatal collisions on Saskatchewan highways have increased 77 per cent compared to June and July of 2025.
Fatal crashes involving impaired drivers are also on the rise, Knelson said.
In the first half of this year, RCMP investigations found that 52 per cent of all fatal collisions had drug and alcohol involvement. The figure is up 35 per cent from the same time period last year.
“We used to think that (impaired driving) was late at night or during the evenings,” Knelson said. “What we are seeing is that is not the case.”
“Members of our traffic services are pulling individuals off the road due to impairment at all hours of the day,” he said.
Bonny Stevenson’s 17-year-old son Quinn was killed by an impaired driver during a long weekend in August of 2013.
She said she cannot comprehend why drivers are still getting behind the wheel while impaired.
“It is just such a simple thing that we just cannot seem to figure out here in Saskatchewan,” Stevenson told CTV News.
“We have lost our son forever. I do not know how to implore people to understand that and see what happens to the families that lose that loved one.”
Stevenson said everyone has a role to play in preventing impaired driving deaths. She urges people to plan ahead for a safe ride home.
A message to bystanders and drivers
If someone suspects a driver is impaired, they should call 911, she added. “Do not be afraid, as a bystander, to make some of those calls,” she said.
Last month, the Saskatchewan government announced plans to strengthen impaired driving penalties for those who fail roadside breath tests.
Potential changes could include tougher, more immediate administrative penalties, such as immediate driver’s licence suspension and vehicle impoundment. Impaired drivers would also face new immediate financial consequences.
“Hopefully we can start stopping some of these impaired drivers before that death or crash,” Stevenson said.
According to the RCMP, there are four main contributors to fatal collisions: impairment, speeding, distracted driving and not wearing a seat belt.
In anticipation of busy highways over this year’s August long weekend, CAA Saskatchewan is reminding drivers to follow the rules of the road and do not drive distracted.
“There will be lots of traffic on the road so pay extra attention,” said Lona Gervais, senior communications specialist with CAA Saskatchewan.
Gervais also recommends drivers plan their routes in advance, so they are aware of any construction or detours.
“If you see an emergency vehicle on the road, make sure you slow down and move over,” Gervais said.
“It is the law to slow to 60(km/h) for construction workers, for tow truck operators and for emergency vehicles.”
